Focusing-hood for cameras.



UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. DEMOREST, OF GARFELD, W'ASl-INGTON.

FOCUSlNG-HOOD FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,308, dated May 22,1900. Application filed July 13, 1899. Serial No. 723,726. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. DnMoRnsr,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Garfield, in the county ofWhitman and State of Vashington, have invented a new and usefulFocusing-Hood for Cameras, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to photographic cameras,and particularly tofocusing attachments therefor. y

The focusing-cloth which is used by photographers and amateurs inphotography for the purposev of focusing the picture is ofttimes veryinconvenient to handle, inasmuch as both hands are needed for adjustingthe and at a time when great attention is de manded in properly handlingand adjusting the focusing-glass.

Many devices have been designed to overcome the defects of thefocusing-cloth, but all of the same are more or less ineective,particularly in failing to obstruct the entrance of light to theinterior, and also by reason of a difference in the shape of the headsand faces of operators using the same and a consequent difficulty inobtaining a proper fit Without utilizing complex and eX- pensivestructural features which will accomplish the desired purpose.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of partswhich Will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of aphotographic camera adapted for portrait purposes and embodying thefeatures of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the deviceshown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the face clothor fabric embodying the particular feature of the invention. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective View of an amateur photographic camera, showing theinvention applied thereto. H,

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several. views.

The numeral 1, Figs. 1 and 2, designates a camera of preferred form andthat particular class known as portrait-cameras, ordinarily used instudios or photographic galleries; This camera comprises, as in ordinarydevices of this character, a frame 2, having an objectglass of groundnature, and extending therefrom is a flexible or bellows foldingenvelope 3, which is reduced rearwardly and attached to a rear frame 4,having anopening 5 therein. Over the frame 4 a flexible covering 6 issecured, which is in like manner supplied with a central opening 7,which coincides With the opening 6,and surrounding said opening 6, onthe exterior' of the covering 5, is a rim or binding 8,0f soft material,preferably animalfur, though at times a Wool or analogous material maybe substituted, and the intention of the invention is fully satisfied aslong as the said rim or binding stands out and affords a receptive orparticular inclosure for a portion of the head and the face of anoperator.

To a ledge 9, below the obj ect-glass frame, a holder 10 has its frontedge movably attach-ed, preferably by means of hinges, and said holderis of substantially U shape or open at the rear, comprising a cross-bar11, to which the connecting-hinges are attached, and side arms 12.Locking-eyes 13 areaftixed to the inner edges of the arms 12 adjacenttheir free ends, and when the envelop 3 is drawn rear- Wardly in opencondition the frame 4 is of such dimension as to be disposed between thearms 12 of the holder 10, and the lower edge of said frame also has eyes14 secured thereto near opposite ends and at a different4 angle to theeyes 13 on the said arms'12. g When the envelop 3 is distended, as shownby Fig. 2, it is maintained in such position by the holder 10 andthrough the medium of the interlocked eyes 13 and 14. The interlockingof the said eyes is due to the difference in angle, and the shanks ofone set come in contact With the shanks of the other set, and the eyesproper bind and prevent separation of the envelop and holder, and thusmake the distance of the observer from the object-glass constant, withthe attendant advantages Well understood in the art.

To make the rim or binding 8 more effective in its sealing engagementwith the face and head of the operator, a Wire 15 (shown by Fig. 2) isembedded therein or in proxim- IOO 5 shaped or drawn in closely to thehead and face of the operatorand thoroughly exclude the entrance oflight-rays to the envelop.

In Fig. 4 the attachment is shown applied to an amateur photographiccamera, and in this instance a central liexible envelop 16 is attachedto the interior of the camera in surrounding relation to theobject-glass. The free end of the said envelop 16 is provided with asimilar rim or binding and may be projected through an opening 17 in theca'mera-box, which is adapted to be covered by a drop-door 18. When inuse, the envelop 16 i is distended and the rim or binding is disposed onthe drop-door 1S, as shown, in con- Venient position for use.

After the camera has been properly focused and the improved device isnot required for f further use the envelop and rim or binding anda'holder having eyes to engage those of the frame, the said eyes of theframe and may be readily closed into the camera-box. The prominentfeature of the invention resides, as will be understood, in theprojection of the rim or binding and/composed of a ma terial that willclosely fall into the contour of the face and head of an operator andbear upon the contiguous portions of itself to intensify the exposure ofthe object on the object-glass by absolutely avoiding the penetration oradmission of any light-rays to the interior of the envelop orfocnsing-inclosure. This is a material advantage over the use of camerasWhere it is necessary to employ the common focusing-cloth, or the otherband devices that require adjustment and are often then inoperative byreason of failure to fully conform to the irregularity of the head andface Vof the operator or photographer.

As a means to lock the holder 10 closed when the camera is arranged forstorage or other purposes, a spring-arm 19 is attached to theycamera-frame adjacent the obj ect-glass frame and has a shoulder 2O tosnap over one of the arms 12, and when said arms are brought up they arecompressed against the rear frame ft and hold the envelop 3 in closedposition.

The improved attachment may be also applied to other cameras and thedimensions and proportions varied to accommodate different purposes.

v Changes in the minor details of construction can also be resorted towithout in the least departing from the nature or sacriiicin g any ofthe advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Afocusing attachment for photographic cameras, comprising a bellows, arear frame attached to said bellows and having an opening therein, anoutstanding rim or binding of Vsoft material, around the opening in theframe, of an adjustable nature and adapted to retain Aa fixed shape, anda movably-attached holder for supporting the bellows and the partsthereof in operative position, and also closable against the same whenfolded.

2. A focusing attachment for photographic cameras, comprising a bellows,a frame connected to the rear of the bellows and having an openingtherein, an outstanding rim or binding of soft material around theopening in said frame, eyes attached to the lower por tion of the frame,adjacent opposite sides,

holder being disposed at different angles.

3. Afocusing attachment for photographic cameras, comprising a bellows,a frame connected to the rear of said bellows and having an openingtherein, an outstanding -rim or binding of soft material around theopening in the bellows, a U-shaped holder movably attached to a portionof the camera and have ing side arms, and interlocking devices carriedby the frame at the rear of the bellows and the said holder.

4C. A fixed focusing attachment for photon graphic cameras, comprising abellows having an opening in the rear reduced portion thereof, anoutstanding rim or binding of soft material around the said opening ofan` adjustable nature and adapted to retain a fixed shape afteradjustment, and a support for holding the bellows when in extended position and movable against the said bellows to hold the latter in closedposition.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. DEMOREST.

Vitn esses:

J. N. CLARKE, G. W. NYE.

ICO

